Successful total adrenal autotransplantation into the spleen of dogs.

Abstract

IN A RECENT communication from this laboratory 1 , a method of diversion of the adrenal venous effluent through the portal circulation of dogs by an adrenal venous-portal shunt was described. This method was based on the technique of Leeds et al 2 for transplantation of the adrenal gland. The method was not entirely satisfactory since it appeared that part of the adrenal venous flow entered the systemic circulation through collateral vessels rather than passing through the liver. In this report an improved method is described to completely divert the adrenal venous flow into the portal circulation. Although it has been abundantly demonstrated both experimentally and clinically that alteration by the liver of the biological activity of certain steroid hormones occurs, the blood pressure of dogs with Goldblatt hypertension was not appreciably altered when adrenal venous blood was diverted through the liver. 1 There were reservations, however, as to the completeness